And D'Artagnan held the lamp before the merry face of Porthos； who now began to prehend the affair and be very proud of the whole undertaking。
〃You were going to visit Monsieur de la Fere？〃 said D'Artagnan。 〃Don't let us disarrange your eminence。 Be so good as to show us the way and we will follow you。
Mazarin was by degrees recovering his senses。
〃Have you been long in the orangery？〃 he asked in a trembling voice； remembering the visits he had been paying to his treasury。
Porthos opened his mouth to reply； D'Artagnan made him a sign； and his mouth； remaining silent； gradually closed。
〃This moment e； my lord；〃 said D'Artagnan。
Mazarin breathed again。 His fears were now no longer for his hoard； but for himself。 A sort of smile played on his lips。
〃e；〃 he said； 〃you have me in a snare； gentlemen。 I confess myself conquered。 You wish to ask for liberty； and I give it you。〃
〃Oh； my lord！〃 answered D'Artagnan； 〃you are too good； as to our liberty； we have that； we want to ask something else of you。〃
〃You have your liberty？〃 repeated Mazarin； in terror。
〃Certainly； and on the other hand； my lord； you have lost it； and now； in accordance with the law of war； sir； you must buy it back again。〃
Mazarin felt a shiver run through him a chill even to his heart's core。 His piercing look was fixed in vain on the satirical face of the Gascon and the unchanging countenance of Porthos。 Both were in shadow and the Sybil of Cuma herself could not have read them。
〃To purchase back my liberty？〃 said the cardinal。
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃And how much will that cost me； Monsieur d'Artagnan？〃
〃Zounds； my lord； I don't know yet。 We must ask the te de la Fere the question。 Will your eminence deign to open the door which leads to the count's room； and in ten minutes all will be settled。〃
Mazarin started。
〃My lord；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃your eminence sees that we wish to act with all formality and due respect； but I must warn you that we have no time to lose； open the door then； my lord； and be so good as to remember； once for all； that on the slightest attempt to escape or the faintest cry for help； our position being very critical indeed； you must not be angry with us if we go to extremities。〃
〃Be assured；〃 answered Mazarin； 〃that I shall attempt nothing； I give you my word of honor。〃
D'Artagnan made a sign to Porthos to redouble his watchfulness； then turning to Mazarin：
〃Now； my lord； let us enter； if you please。〃
Conferences
Mazarin turned the lock of a double door； on the threshold of which they found Athos ready to receive his illustrious guests according to the notice minges had given him。
On perceiving Mazarin he bowed。
〃Your eminence；〃 he said； 〃might have dispensed with your attendants； the honor bestowed on me is too great for me to be unmindful of it。〃
〃And so； my dear count；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃his eminence didn't actually insist on our attending him； it is Du Vallon and I who have insisted； and even in a manner somewhat impolite； perhaps； so great was our longing to see you。〃
At that voice； that mocking tone； and that familiar gesture； accenting voice and tone； Athos made a bound of surprise。
〃D'Artagnan！ Porthos！〃 he exclaimed。
〃My very self； dear friend。〃
〃Me； also！〃 repeated Porthos。
〃What means this？〃 asked the count。
〃It means；〃 replied Mazarin； trying to smile and biting his lips in the attempt； 〃that our parts are changed； and that instead of these gentlemen being my prisoners I am theirs； but； gentlemen； I warn you； unless you kill me； your victory will be of very short duration； people will e to the rescue。〃
〃Ah！ my lord！〃 cried the Gascon； 〃don't threaten！ 'tis a bad example。 We are so good and gentle to your eminence。 e； let us put aside all rancor and talk pleasantly。〃
〃There's nothing I wish more；〃 replied Mazarin。 〃But don't think yourselves in a better position than you are。 In ensnaring me you have fallen into the trap yourselves。 How are you to get away from here？ remember the soldiers and sentinels who guard these doors。 Now； I am going to show you how sincere I am。〃
〃Good；〃 thought D'Artagnan； 〃we must look about us； he's going to play us a trick。〃
〃I offered you your liberty；〃 continued the minister； 〃will you take it？ Before an hour has passed you will be discovered； arrested； obliged to kill me； which would be a crime unworthy of loyal gentlemen like you。〃
〃He is right；〃 thought Athos。
And； like every other reflection passing in a mind that entertained none but noble thoughts； this feeling was expressed in his eyes。
〃And therefore；〃 said D'Artagnan； to clip the hope which Athos's tacit adhesion had imparted to Mazarin； 〃we shall not proceed to that violence save in the last extremity。〃
〃If on the contrary；〃 resumed Mazarin； 〃you accept your liberty 〃
〃Why you； my lord； might take it away from us in less than five minutes afterward； and from my knowledge of you I believe you will so take it away from us。〃
〃No on the faith of a cardinal。 You do not believe me？〃
〃My lord； I never believe cardinals who are not priests。〃
〃Well； on the faith of a minister。〃
〃You are no longer a minister； my lord； you are a prisoner。〃
〃Then； on the honor of a Mazarin； as I am and ever shall be； I hope；〃 said the cardinal。
〃Hem；〃 replied D'Artagnan。 〃I have heard speak of a Mazarin who had not much religion when his oaths were in question。 I fear he may have been an ancestor of your eminence。〃
〃Monsieur d'Artagnan； you are a great wit and I am really sorry to be on bad terms with you。〃
〃My lord； let us e to terms； I ask nothing better。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Mazarin； 〃if I place you in security； in a manner evident； palpable 〃
〃Ah！ that is another thing；〃 said Porthos。
〃Let us see；〃 said Athos。
〃Let us see；〃 said D'Artagnan。
〃In the first place； do you accept？〃 asked the cardinal。
〃Unfold your plan； my lord； and we will see。〃
〃Take notice that you are shut up captured。〃
〃You well know； my lord； that there always remains to us a last resource。〃
〃What？〃
〃That of dying together。〃
Mazarin shuddered。
〃Listen；〃 he said； 〃at the end of yonder corridor is a door； of which I have the key； it leads into the park。 Go； and take this key with you； you are active； vigorous； and you have arms。 At a hundred steps； on turning to the left； you will find the wall of the park； get over it； and in three leaps you will be on the road and free。〃
〃Ah！ by Jove； my lord；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃you have well said； but these are only words。 Where is the key you speak of？〃
〃Here it is。〃
〃Ah； my lord！ You will conduct us yourself； then； to that door？〃
〃Very willingly； if it be necessary to reassure you；〃 answered the minister； and Mazarin； who was delighted to get off so cheaply； led the way； in high spirits； to the corridor and opened the door。
It led into the park； as the three fugitives perceived by the night breeze which rushed into the corridor and blew the wind into their faces。
〃The devil！〃 exclaimed the Gascon； 〃'tis a dreadful night； my lord。 We don't know the locality； and shall never find the wall。 Since your eminence has e so far； e a few steps further； conduct us； my lord； to the wall。〃
〃Be it so；〃 replied the cardinal； and walking in a straight line he went to the wall； at the foot of which they all four arrived at the same instant。
〃Are you satisfied； gentlemen？〃 asked Mazarin。
〃I think so； indeed； we should be hard to please if we were not。 Deuce take it！ three poor gentlemen escorted by a prince of the church！ Ah！ apropos； my lord！ you remarked that we were all active； vigorous and armed。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You are mistaken。 Monsieur du Vallon and I are the only two who are armed。 The count is not； and should we meet with one of your patrol we must defend ourselves。〃
〃'Tis true。〃
〃Where can we find another sword？〃 asked Porthos。
〃My lord；〃 said D'Artagnan； 〃will lend his； which is of no use to him； to the te de la Fere。〃
〃Willingly；〃 said the cardinal； 〃I will even ask the count to keep it for my sake。〃
〃I promise you； my lord； never to part with it；〃 replied Athos。
〃Well； well；〃 cried D'Artagnan； 〃this reconciliation is truly touching； have you not tears in your eyes； Porthos？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Porthos； 〃but I do not know if it is feeling or the wind that makes me weep； I think it is the wind。〃
〃Now climb up； Athos； quickly；〃 said D'Artagnan。 Athos； assisted by Porthos； who lifted him up like a feather； arrived at the top。
〃Now； jump down； Athos。〃
Athos jumped and disappeared on the other side of the wall。
〃Are you on the ground？〃 asked D'Artagnan。
〃Yes。〃
〃Without accident？〃
〃Perfectly safe and sound。〃
〃Porthos； whilst I get up； watch the cardinal。 No； I don't want your help； watch the cardinal。〃
〃I am watching；〃 said Porthos。 〃Well？〃
〃You are right； it is more difficult than I thought。 Lend me your back but don't let the cardinal go。〃
Porthos lent him his back and D'Artagnan was soon on the summit of the wall； where he seated himself。
Mazarin pret